Magnetic Field Sensor Using In Situ Solid Source Graphene and Graphene Induced Anti-Ferromagnetic Coupling and Spin Filtering

ABSTRACT

A magnetic field sensor based on two anti-ferromagnetically coupled magnetic layers separated by multilayer graphene, prepared in a single sputter chamber without a vacuum break.

This application claims priority to and the benefits of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/297,550 filed on Feb. 19, 2016, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Magnetic field sensors are ubiquitous, they are found as position, rotation and velocity sensors in vehicles and industrial equipment. They are also used for current sensing in high power applications and the advance in magnetic sensors has enabled the low-cost high-density hard disk industry.

For magnetic sensors to be attractive they need to have a high magnetoresistance (MR>100%), have a linear response in a small magnetic field (%/Oe), and have low resistance (high signal to noise).

Presently, magnetic sensors have high magnetoresistance (MR>100%), for example MgO based magnetic tunnel barriers, but these have a high resistance due to the nature of the tunnel barrier. Hall sensors are cheap and have a linear response but a very low sensitivity (%/Oe). Anisotropic magneto resistance sensors have low resistance and thus high signal to noise but very low magnetoresistance (MR<2-3%).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure describes and demonstrates a magnetic field sensor based on two anti-ferromagnetically coupled magnetic layers separated by multilayer graphene, prepared in a single sputter chamber without a vacuum break.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a sputter process. Left is RT sputtering of amorphous carbon and NiFe. Middle, sample after anneal, multi layer graphene has formed on top of the NiFe film. At this point the sample is either taken out of the chamber for analysis or left in to proceed to the second magnetic layer. Right is a full sensor stack.

FIG. 2 is an atomic force microscopy image of Graphene on top of NiFe.

FIG. 3 illustrates a raman map of a 5×5 um area on the left, showing a uniform coverage, dark means >5 multilayer of graphene. Middle illustrates layer thickness hystogram of 5 by 5 mm² area, almost exclusively multi layer graphene. Right is a Raman spectrum of a typical spot showing high quality Graphene.

FIG. 4 illustrates raw signal Mx vs applied field. Magnetic studies by vibrating sample magnetometer show the in-plane magnetization of the full sample.

FIG. 5 illustrates several views. 5A illustrates a schematic and shows the external applied field. 5B illustrates the magnetic field. 5C is a graph illustrating normalized resistance vs applied field.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure describes and demonstrates a magnetic field sensor based on two anti-ferromagnetically coupled magnetic layers separated by multilayer graphene, prepared in a single sputter chamber without a vacuum break.

The key advantages include at least the following: 1) the potential for very high magnetoresistance values because of the spin filtering nature of multi-layer graphene; 2) the absence of hysteretic behavior, crucial for sensor application, due to the anti-ferro magnetic coupling induced by the graphene spacer layer; 3) the low resistance of the multilayer, crucial for high signal to ratio; and 4) very high sensitivity, large magnetoresistance response in a small magnetic field range.

In this disclosure is described how the use of multilayer graphene synthesized from a layer of sputtered amorphous carbon induces anti-ferromagnetic coupling between two ferromagnetic layers (ideal for magnetic sensors) and has low resistance and large magnetoresistance response in a small magnetic field.

Electron transport through multi-layer graphene only supports electrons with a momentum K. Graphene in close contact with ferromagnetic surfaces such as Ni(111) and Co(0002) have theoretically been shown only to have minority spin carriers with momentum K. For electrons with momentum different than K (the majority spin), the graphene is effectively an insulator or tunnel barrier. Multilayer graphene acts as a perfect spin filter between two magnetic layers in a similar fashion as MgO is a spin filter in MgO based tunnel barriers with TMR>100%.

The magnetic behavior of two magnetic layers separated by a non-magnetic layer depends on the interlayer exchange coupling. They are either anti-ferromagnetically coupled, ferromagnetically coupled, or free. For magnetic memory applications, it is desired that the coupling be free in order to arbitrarily switch one of the magnetic layers. This is not ideal for magnetic sensors, because this implies hysteretic switching behavior.

For a sensor, it is desired that the layers are anti-ferromagnetically coupled, such that the magnetization of the two layers are anti-parallel when no magnetic field is applied and an external magnetic field will overcome the exchange interaction and align the magnetizations parallel. The magnetoresistance response results from the change in resistance between the anti-parallel and the parallel magnetic orientation. A ferromagnetic coupling would have the two layers always parallel aligned and lead to zero magneto resistance. Multilayer graphene has theoretically been predicted to induce anti-ferromagnetic coupling.

Graphene is typically synthesized on a metal by exposure to high temperature ambient in the presence of a source of carbon. Here, in one example or embodiment, we will use graphene from solid source, such that we can build the whole sensor stack in a single process run in a sputtering chamber.

Example 1

The full stack was prepared in situ using DC magnetron sputtering in an AJA sputtering chamber with base pressure less than 3×10⁻⁸ Torr. The sputtering guns were in a confocal geometry with ˜15 degree of incidence angle and ˜15 cm of distance between substrate and the gun.

The substrate, Silicon wafers with a 27.5 nm of thermal oxide, were ultrasonically cleaned 15 minutes each in acetone then alcohol. After loading, the substrate was back sputtered for three minutes at 10W, 100V in 20 mTorr of Argon. 2.5 nm of amorphous carbon was grown at a rate of 0.31 nm per minute at 100 W in 3 mTorr of Ar. 25 nm of Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ was grown at 0.05 nm/sec at 100 W in 3 mTorr Ar.

Example 2

An in situ anneal at 875 C. for 10 minutes was performed in a pressure below 2×10⁻⁶ Torr. The sample was then allowed to cool down to room temperature at 10 C./min. After the sample was cooled down it was either unloaded for analysis or a layer of 12 nm Co₉₀Fe₁₀ was sputter deposited and capped with 7.5 nm of Pt, see FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows the 4 point resistance of the un-processed film. Four probes were place 1 mm apart and a Current Source was used to supply current to the outer contacts, while the potential difference between the two inner contacts was measured by a Keithley 2000 voltmeter in a standard four-probe electrical measurement. The normalized resistance versus magnetic field is shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5A illustrates a standard four probe resistance measurement on the unprocessed film, probe distance is 1 mm and the applied field is parallel to the current direction. A normalized magneto resistance curve showing a negative 4% effect, inset shows Magnetoresistance curve of GMR device with Fe/Cr/Fe multi layer is shown in FIG. 5C.

Atomic force microscopy of the sample after anneal but before the second magnetic layer, see FIG. 1B, shows a smooth film (1 nm RMS), see FIG. 2. Raman studies, FIG. 3, show a uniform covering of multilayer graphene over a 5 by 5 μm area and the Raman spectra of a typical spot shows a D over G of 0.18 indicating high quality graphene from a solid source amorphous carbon layer was obtained on the top surface of NiFe.

Magnetic studies by vibrating sample magnetometer shown in FIG. 4, show the in-plane magnetization of the full sample (FIG. 1C). The shape of the hysteresis loop is indicative of an anti-ferromagnetic coupled system.

Here, the magnetization is reduced and plateaus around zero applied magnetic field, where the magnetization of the two layers cancel each other.

The resistance is lower at zero field and higher at large field. This is the opposite of conventional giant magneto resistance, which has a negative magneto resistance. This is direct confirmation of the spin filtering of majority carriers in the multilayer graphene spacer. The overall resistance of this sample was 12 Ohm.

There are many major advantages of this new method and device.

Some advantages include but are not limited to: 1) simple in situ processing using standard sputtering techniques; 2) High MR due to spin filtering of graphene; 3) High sensitivity and linear regime due to Anti-ferromagnetic coupling; and 4) Low resistance, thin well controlled multi layer graphene spacer layer.

Some further advantages include but are not limited to: 1) Positive magneto resistance can be combined with conventional negative magneto resistance in balancing circuits for even greater sensitivity; 2) Creates a diffusion barrier to prevent inter-diffusion of the two metal layers at high temperature needed for subsequent processing; 3) Provides control of the film thickness in discrete 0.3 nm steps down to monoatomic 0.3 nm thickness that is unachievable with competing materials; and 4) Removes the dangling bonds inherent in three-dimensional crystalline and amorphous materials thereby preventing formation of unwanted compounds at the interface between films.

This new magnetic field sensor using In Situ solid source graphene and graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering can be used in many applications and are superior to the current state of the art because this new sensor overcomes the issues of the current sensors which either have low MR (AMR) high resistance (GMR, MTJs) or low sensitivity (Hall sensors).

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the claimed invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, e.g., using the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said” is not construed as limiting the element to the singular. 

What we claim is:
 1. A method of making a magnetic field sensor using in situ solid source graphene and graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering, comprising: providing a substrate comprising silicon wafers and thermal oxide; performing DC magnetron sputtering; back-sputtering the substrate; growing amorphous carbon on the substrate; sputtering and growing a first ferromagnetic metal surface on the amorphous carbon; annealing the substrate and the amorphous carbon and the first ferromagnetic metal surface; forming a graphene film on the first ferromagnetic metal surface; wherein the first ferromagnetic metal surface comprises NiFe; sputtering and growing a second ferromagnetic film on the graphene film; and capping the second ferromagnetic film with a platinum layer.
 2. The method of making a magnetic field sensor using in situ solid source graphene and graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering of claim 1 wherein the magnetic field sensor and the steps of sputtering and annealing were performed in situ in a single chamber.
 3. The method of making a magnetic field sensor using in situ solid source graphene and graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering of claim 2 wherein the thermal oxide is 27.5 nm of thermal oxide and the graphene film is multilayer.
 4. The method of making a magnetic field sensor using in situ solid source graphene and graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering of claim 3 wherein the step of back-sputtering the substrate is performed in situ using DC magnetron sputtering for 3 minutes at 10 W, 100V in 20 mTorr of Argon.
 5. The method of making a magnetic field sensor using in situ solid source graphene and graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering of claim 4 wherein the step amorphous carbon was grown in situ at a rate of 0.31 nm per minute at 100 W in 3 mTorr of Ar.
 6. The method of making a magnetic field sensor using in situ solid source graphene and graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering of claim 5 wherein the first ferromagnetic metal surface is Ni₈₀Fe₂₀ and the step of growing the first ferromagnetic metal surface was in situ at a rate of 0.05 nm/sec at 100 W in 3 mTorr Ar.
 7. The method of making a magnetic field sensor using in situ solid source graphene and graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering of claim 2 wherein the step of annealing the substrate and the amorphous carbon and the first ferromagnetic metal surface was performed in situ at 875° C. for 10 minutes in a pressure below 2×10⁻⁶ Torr.
 8. The method of making a magnetic field sensor using in situ solid source graphene and graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering of claim 7 further including the step of cooling to room temperature after the step of annealing and prior to the step of sputtering and growing a second ferromagnetic film on the graphene film and wherein the second ferromagnetic film is Co₉₀Fe₁₀.
 9. The method of making a magnetic field sensor using in situ solid source graphene and graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering of claim 7 wherein the platinum layer is 7.5 nm.
 10. A magnetic field sensor formed by using in situ solid source graphene and using graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering, comprising: a substrate comprising silicon wafers and thermal oxide; an amorphous carbon layer on the substrate grown by sputtering; a first ferromagnetic metal surface grown in situ by sputtering on the amorphous carbon layer; a graphene film grown by annealing in situ on the first ferromagnetic metal surface; a second ferromagnetic film on the graphene film; and a capping layer on the second ferromagnetic film.
 11. The magnetic field sensor formed by using in situ solid source graphene and using graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering of claim 10 wherein the first ferromagnetic metal surface comprises NiFe and wherein the second ferromagnetic film comprises CoFe.
 12. The magnetic field sensor formed by using in situ solid source graphene and using graphene induced anti-ferromagnetic coupling and spin filtering of claim 10 wherein the graphene film is multilayer. 